C704 Zu Ann's Arrangements

In a mere five years, the Aetherius Continent has seen the rise of two empires and the crowning of new emperors - an event without precedent in such a brief span of time.

As Chen Liangquan, leading a multitude of mixed-bloods, entered Afnetalos as the new emperor, Yu Yuan was struck by an absurd feeling. He was still reeling from the shock, unable to settle his emotions.

Chen Liangquan's rescue of the Silvermoon Queen led Yu Yuan to surmise that she was allied with Liangquan, perhaps even sharing the same mixed-blood heritage.

Lee Yupan's actions in the Forgotten Ruins provoked the five great sects to retaliate, culminating in the downfall of the Lee family and the capture of Yupan herself. The renaming of the Silvermoon Empire to the Shadowlight Empire signified the collapse of Yupan's schemes. Despite the Silvermoon Queen siding with Liangquan, she ultimately faced defeat.

Yet, Liangquan asserted his dominance by compelling the Songbird Queen to abdicate, seizing control of Aetherius's mightiest empire. He boldly declared the city open to all mixed-bloods, cementing his unique status in this realm.

From this day forward, for thousands of years to come, Chen Liangquan's actions will be etched deeply into history, impossible for anyone to overlook.

"If I hadn't foiled the Silvermoon Queen's plans in the Forgotten Ruins, could it have been?" A thought abruptly crossed Yu Yuan's mind, prompting a wry smile and a gentle shake of his head.

The true motives behind Lee Yupan and Shen Feiqing's desire to assist the Dark Realm's Shura in reassembling their souls, and their awakening in the Forgotten Ruins, remained an enigma. Yu Yuan resolved to seek clarity from the empress when they next met.

The Ashen Shadowmist receded towards the Scarlet Dunes, and with it, the Sky Fiend, the archdemons, the Terra Fiends, and the Otherkin retreated like a receding tide.

"You may stay in Songbird City, within the Songbird Empire, as you please," Zu Ann reiterated with a smile. "The five great sects are too preoccupied to exert any pressure on the Songbird Empire."

He gestured towards several elderly mixed-bloods, adding, "Once Chen Liangquan alters the city's rune circle, Afnetalos will be truly his. With Liangquan and those elders present, the city will remain impregnable unless someone of the Primordial Spirit Realm intervenes personally."

"I see," Yu Yuan nodded slightly.

"Forget about returning to the Shadowlight Empire," Zu Ann mused, seemingly contemplating the best place for Yu Yuan to settle. His eyes suddenly brightened as he gazed at the Crucible of Evil where Yu Yuan stood. "There's a place that's perfect for you to train, to enhance your abilities and strengthen your power. Yes, that's an excellent spot for you at this moment!"

"Where might that be?" Yu Yuan inquired with interest.

The current state of the Everlands was in utter disarray. The Boulderdawn's aggressive invasion, coupled with the arrival of numerous Sky Fiends and Otherkin, had set the stage for conflict, plunging many areas into relentless turmoil.

Yu Yuan stood alongside Zu Ann and Chen Liangquan, with the dense Ashen Shadowmist looming behind them—a sight now etched in the minds of Qu Jing, Qi Jinghai, and others, who had come to view him as an adversary.

In the future, regardless of his explanations, he would be a target for the forces led by the upper sects, the Devil Palace, and Shadow's Keep. This was an unchangeable reality.

Given these circumstances, he needed to be strategic about his presence in the Everlands. If he had reached the Solar Spirit level, he wouldn't even consider lingering in the Everlands. Instead, he would venture to the expansive Star River in the extraterrestrial realms, steering clear of the upheaval back home.

Remaining here meant confronting Zhao Yafu, Chen Qingyan, Zhan Tianxiang, Liu Ying, and others—acquaintances who would see him as an enemy due to factional differences. Departing was a viable escape.

Alas, he was nowhere near the Solar Spirit realm.

"I'll take you to the Land of Terror," Zu Ann offered with a smile.

"The Land of Terror!" Yu Yuan was taken aback, his face paling.

Situated on the Land of Quiescence, the Land of Terror was infamous as a haven for Terra Fiends, the region with the heaviest concentration of Yin Qi, inhospitable to living creatures. It was one of the few places in the Everlands that stood unafraid of the five greatest supreme sects, alongside the Godsblight Marsh.

Even the mightiest cultivators of the Primordial Spirit Realm cannot do as they please in the Land of Terror, nor can they alter its immutable rules!

Rumor has it that only those cultivators who have successfully condensed a Lunar Spirit and can project it from their bodies are able to tread within the Land of Terror.

Any living creature bold enough to venture into the Land of Terror will find themselves besieged by innumerable evil spirits and alien souls!

Currently, he is merely in the middle stage of the Subtlety Realm, a considerable distance from condensing his Lunar Spirit.

Wouldn't venturing into the Land of Terror at this point be akin to seeking one's own demise?

"You're aware of your concerns."

Zu Ann remained unfazed, "You wield the Crucible of Evil and have mastered the Wraithbinding. I'm convinced that the various spirits within the Land of Terror should be more concerned about you than you are about them. While others require advancement to the Lunar Spirit Realm and depend on their Lunar Spirit to navigate the Land of Terror, you, Yu Yuan, do not."

"The Land of Terror is well-suited to your current condition. There, you can achieve a breakthrough to the Lunar Spirit Realm and successfully condense your Lunar Spirit!"

Zu Ann spoke with a hint of excitement, seemingly convinced of the Land of Terror's suitability for him at this juncture.

He paused, his gaze shifting to the Crucible of Evil as he pondered.

"Can the Crucible of Evil and Wraithbinding truly secure my standing in the Land of Terror?" Yu Yuan paused, taken aback. "Can these tools really deter alien souls and the Ghost King Spectre? I'm aware that the Crucible of Evil and Wraithbinding have some sway over spirits, but given my modest level, I remain apprehensive..."

"With the Crucible of Evil in your possession and your proficiency in Wraithbinding, these serve as your amulets of protection," Zu Ann declared.

"Amulets of protection?" Yu Yuan echoed, surprised.

"Do you know why the Terror Claws sect met its end?" Zu Ann shifted the conversation.

"Why?"

"The Terror Claws had deep ties with the Boulderdawn," Zu Ann explained with a wry smile. "That's precisely the reason. Following the fall of the Boulderdawn, the five great supreme sects settled their scores in secret, gradually leading to the demise of the Terror Claws. Much like the Terror Claws, those sects that initially stood firmly with the Boulderdawn and later opted for neutrality or allegiance to other powers have also faded into obscurity."

He disclosed a secret that had been concealed for many years.

Yu Yuan was quick on the uptake. With just a few hints, he pieced together the context and grasped the full picture.

Sects like the Terror Claws had either sided with Boulderdawn or at least remained neutral.

Once they saw Boulderdawn succumbing to the overwhelming power of the five great supreme sects, with their strongest members fleeing to the extraterrestrial Star River, factions like the Terror Claws finally acknowledged the supremacy of the five great sects.

Previously, these sects had pledged allegiance to Boulderdawn.

Ultimately, the coalition led by the five great powers exploited the extraterrestrial situation and the civil wars on two continents to gradually erase sects like the Terror Claws from the Everlands forever.

This was a different kind of settling scores after the fall.

"The Crucible of Evil symbolizes the Terror Claws, while Wraithbinding is the hallmark of Boulderdawn," Yu Yuan mused, his eyes brightening. "Are you suggesting that the alien souls and spectres within the Land of Terror, such as the Ghost King and other malevolent spirits, were once allies of Boulderdawn, much like the Untamed?"

Zu Ann nodded, smiling, "The most powerful among them were once honorary elders of Boulderdawn. They operated independently, only within the Land of Terror. Even with Boulderdawn gone, as long as they remain within the Land of Terror, the five supreme forces can't touch them."

"For them, the Land of Terror is their sanctuary, a place where their strength increases by a notch. The five great supreme sects are aware of their unique status and have tacitly permitted their existence."

Yu Yuan stroked his chin, deep in thought, then declared, "If that's the case, I'll head to the Land of Terror to continue building my strength."

"The Wraithbinding technique you practice and the Crucible of Evil you possess will both bolster your combat prowess," Zu Ann affirmed, then stepped off the Chen family's teleportation circle and gestured for Yu Yuan to approach. "With Chen Liangquan ascending as the new emperor, he surely won't object to us using the Chen family's teleportation circle."

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